Portable ramp

ABSTRACT

A ramp, for instance a walk ramp for pets, such as dogs, includes an elongated walk bridge ( 1 ) which is intended to be placed so as to slope between two height levels. The bridge includes two parts ( 10, 11 ) which are mutually sequential in the longitudinal direction of the bridge and which are mutually connected via a hinge means ( 18 ) which in one swinging direction has an end position in which the walk surfaces of said parts ( 10, 11 ) are essentially parallel and in a common plane, and which in its other swinging direction enable the parts ( 10, 11 ) to be folded to essential parallelity. When the bridge is extended or unfolded, a join gap between the parts ( 10, 11 ) on the upper load-carrying side of the bridge will be covered by a cover plate ( 4 ), which has an edge part that is fastened to one bridge part ( 10 ) and extends generally transversely over the width of the bridge ( 1 ). The opposite edge part of the cover plate ( 4 ) is free in the folded state of the bridge and projects out beyond the ends of said bridge parts ( 10, 11 ). The free edge part of the cover plate has an opening ( 41 ) which, when the bridge is extended or unfolded, is spaced from the join ( 17, 17 ) between parts such as to form a bridge carrying handle ( 42 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable ramp in the form of anelongated walk bridge that is intended to slope between two heightlevels and that includes two parts which are mutually sequential in thelongitudinal direction of the bridge and which are mutually connectedthrough the medium of a hinge member.

The hinge has, in one pivotal direction, an end position in which walksurfaces of the parts are essentially aligned and in a common plane. Inanother pivotal direction, the hinge enables the parts to be foldedessentially in parallel to each other. In the extended or unfolded stateof the bridge, a cover plate covers a joint gap between the parts on theupwardly facing, load-carrying side of the bridge. The cover plate hasan edge part which is fastened to one bridge part and which extendsgenerally transversely across the width of the bridge.

2. Prior Art

It is well known that pets, such as dogs, sometimes find it difficult tojump from the ground up into the boot or baggage space of an automobile,for instance. This may be due to illness, age, or for some other reason.It is known to use a walk ramp if the pet/dog is heavy and it is desiredto transport the dog by car, for instance. In so doing, one end of theramp is placed on the ground and its other end is placed on the edge ofan open car boot or baggage space. When the ramp has a suitablelength/slope, the dog itself is able to walk up and down the ramp,possibly with some assistance. In practice, the ramp/bridge willpreferably have a length of about 2 m. For ease of transport in the car,the ramp will preferably be hinged about a longitudinal centre region,said hinge means including means for stopping unfolding of the ramp whenit has reached its use position, i.e. when the walk surfaces of thebridge parts are parallel.

However, known ramps/bridges of this nature are still encumbered withcertain problems. One problem is that the ramp is relatively heavy anddifficult to handle, for example with respect to lifting the ramp intoand out of the car and also with respect to folding-up and unfolding theramp. Another problem is that a foldable ramp construction constitutes arisk of a dog's claw fastening in the joint region between the outwardlyfolded parts of the ramp. The consequences of such an occurrence areserious and the problem cannot therefore be ignored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a ramp which offers afavourable solution to the aforesaid problems and which can be used withparticular benefit as an animal walk ramp or overpass, for instance fordogs. The inventive ramp can, however, be used from a general aspect.

This object is achieved with a ramp that includes an elongated walkbridge for sloping between two height levels and includes two partswhich are mutually sequential in a longitudinal direction of the bridge.The two parts are mutually connected through a hinge member which in onepivotal direction has an end position in which walk surfaces of theparts are essentially in line and in a common plane, and which inanother pivotal direction enables the parts to be folded essentially inparallel to each other. In the extended or unfloded state of the bridge,a cover plate covers a joint gap between the parts on the upwardlyfacing, load-carrying side of the bridge. The cover plate has an edgepart which is fastened to one bridge part and extends generallytransversely accross the width of the bridge.

Further embodiments of the inventive ramp reside in the higher end ofthe bridge including means for securing the bridge to a threshold memberat the higher level. The securing means includes a flap which defines adownwardly facing recess with the bridge. The flap is pivotallyconnected to the bridge by a second hinge member which enables the flapto be dropped in a use position of the bridge.

The ramp includes a flexible covering fabric which covers a jointbetween the flap and the bridge in the use position. A frictionenhancing means, such as anti-slip means, on the end-parts of thebridge, wherein the end of the bridge is intended to lie on a higherlevel, is connected to an anchoring attachment through a pivot linkdevice which connects the bridge and the anchoring attachment. Further,the bridge can be folded into a baggage space and stored in a foldedstate on th floor of the baggage space.

Basically, the joint between the unfolded or extended bridge parts isbridged by a tongue which extends over the width of the ramp and whichis attached to one bridge part. The tongue is designed to lie inabutment with the other bridge part when the ramp is unfolded into itsstate of use. The tongue is preferably attached to that part of the rampwhich is located lowermost in the sloping ramp when in use. When theramp is folded up, so that the bridge parts are again generally parallelwith each other, the tongue protrudes out beyond the end of the foldedramp. The tongue includes a through-penetrating opening. This openingdefines together with the free edge-part of the tongue a handle whichfacilitates transportation/handling of the ramp and also facilitateshandling of the ramp in conjunction with unfolding/folding of the ramp.

The bridging tongue may be comprised of elastomeric material, but mayeven consist of a generally rigid, thin plate.

The hazardous joint gap between the bridge parts is covered by thetongue. The opening of the tongue is located on one side of this gap inthe use position of the ramp.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of an unfolded or extended walkramp in connection with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the ramp of FIG. 1 in a folded or collapsed state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken on the line III—III in FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the upper end-part of the ramp ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a further development of the construction shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the walk ramp of FIG. 5 fitted to a car.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The ramp of the present invention comprises a bridge or overpass 1 thatincludes two parts 10, 11 which are interconnected by a hinge means 12.Each bridge part 10, 11 is comprised of two mutually parallel supportbars 14 and 15, each supporting a respective plywood sheet 17. The sheet17 is covered with matting (not shown) which functions to prevent thedog from slipping. The hinge means 12 is comprised of coaxial pivotshafts 18 which are positioned so as to enable the parts 10, 11 to befolded from an end position in which they lie in a common plane and inwhich the sheets 17 are in butt contact with each other, through 180° toa folded or collapsed position in which the bridge parts 10, 11 areessentially plane parallel with each other (FIG. 2).

One bridge part 10 carries a covering tongue 4, comprised for instanceof an elastic, rubber plate. The tongue 4 extends over the width of thebridge 1 and is fastened to the lower bridge part 10 along one edge ofthe tongue. In the unfolded or extended state of the ramp, the tongue 4lies flat against the upper surface of the upper bridge part 11 andincludes an opening 41 which is spaced from the joint between the sheets17 in the unfolded or extended state of the ramp. The opening 41 definesa handle which projects out from one end of the folded ramp.

The upper end of the ramp includes means for securing the upper part ofthe ramp to a threshold member of the baggage space or boot of the caror to some like structural member. The securing means 50 may comprise aflap 51 which is connected to the covering sheet 17 of the upper bridgepart 11 by a hinge means 52. The flap 51 and the sheet 17 may be adaptedto lie in butt contact when the flap and the sheet 17 of the bridge part11 form a downwardly turned concavity which recieves a boot threshold orsome like structural member. As illustrated, the upper side of the sheetjoint in the vicinity of the hinge means 52 may be covered with acurved, flexible material, for instance matting, so as to prevent adog's claws from fastening in the joint.

The free end of the bars belonging to the lower bridge part 10 may beprovided with friction enhancing means that function to counteractslipping of the bridge part on an underlying supportive surface. Thelower bridge part 10 may also have provided on its end a bridging flapwhich corresponds to the flap 51 but fixedly angled in the otherdirection.

FIG. 5 shows the flap 51 connected by hinge means 53 to a fitting 54that includes holes 55 for receiving screws, rivets or the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a car that includes a baggage space 60 which isdelimited rearwardly by a threshold member 61. The illustrated carincludes a tailgate 63 pivotally mounted at its upper edge. The fitting54 is attached to the rear part of the floor of the baggage space. Theflap/hinge means 51 and its pivotal connection 52, 53 to the ramp 1 andto the fitting 54 respectively enables the threshold member 61 to becomfortably bridged and also enables the pivot means 52 to be displacedrearwardly to an extent at which the ramp proper will pass free from therear bumper or fender and the like extending rearwardly beyond the rearlimitation of the baggage space.

The lengths of the bridge parts 10, 11 and the flap/link 51 are adaptedso that they can be folded into and out of the baggage space, asindicated in FIG. 6. The ramp is folded up or collapsed, by firstfolding in the flap 51 around the hinge means 53 and then foldingtogether the bridge parts 10, 11 by lifting the ramp by the handle 42and swinging-in the collapsed ramp in the baggage space around the hingemeans 52, to the folded position shown in broken lines, in whichposition the main parts of the ramp 1 are indicated through the mediumof their reference signs to which a prime has been added.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 thus enables any threshold member61 to be bridged comfortably and also enables the pivot means 52 to bedisplaced longitudinally so as to allow the ramp to be readily extendedinto the baggage space and extended to an operative state withouthindrance from the rear bumper and the like rearwards of the baggagespace opening.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable and portable ramp comprising: a firstbridge part and a second bridge part mutually connected by a hingemember coupled to an underside of said first and second bridge parts,said ramp having an extended position in which said first and secondbridge parts are in sequential alignment in a common plane, and a foldedposition in which said first and second bridge parts are pivoted on saidhinge to be in planes generally parallel with one another, uppersurfaces of said first and second bridge parts providing a walk surfacedivided by a joint when said ramp is in said extended position; anelastic covering tongue fastened at one end to the upper surface of oneof said first and second bridge parts adjacent the joint, said fastenedend extending transversely across a width of the walk surface, a freeend of said covering tongue extending over the joint and transverselyacross the width of the walk surface such that said covering tongue liesflat on said walk surface and covers said joint when said ramp is insaid extended position; a flap pivotally connected to one end of saidramp intended to lie on a higher height level by a second hinge memberwhich allows the flap to be tilted down when the ramp is in the extendedposition, said flap when tilted down defining a downwardly facing recesswith said ramp for securing the ramp over a raised threshold area atsaid higher height; a flexible fabric piece fastened to said one end andto said flay on upper surfaces thereof for covering a second jointbetween the flap and the ramp; and said elastic covering tongue havingan opening in said free end which, when the ramp is in said extendedposition, is spaced from the walk surface joint, said opening definingan elastic handle which projects outwardly when said ramp is in saidfolded position.
 2. The ramp as set forth in claim 1, further comprisingan anchoring attachment pivotally connected to said flap for connectingthe ramp to the threshold area.
 3. The ramp as set forth in claim 2,wherein said anchoring attachment includes an L-shaped member with onearm connected to said flap with a hinge, and the other arm having afitting for fixed attachment to a mounting surface in the thresholdarea.
 4. The ramp as set forth in claim 1, further comprising frictionenhancing elements positioned on the walk surface.
 5. A foldable andportable ramp comprising: a first bridge part and a second bridge partmutually connected by a hinge member coupled to an underside of saidfirst and second bridge parts, said ramp having an extended position inwhich said first and second bridge parts are in sequential alignment ina common plane, and a folded position in which said first and secondbridge parts are pivoted on said hinge to be in planes generallyparallel with one another, upper surfaces of said first and secondbridge parts providing a walk surface divided by a joint when said rampis in said extended position; a covering tongue fastened at one end tothe upper surface of one of said first and second bridge parts adjacentthe joint, said fastened end extending transversely across a width ofthe walk surface, a free end of said covering tongue extending over thejoint and transversely across the width of the walk surface such thatsaid covering tongue lies flat on said walk surface and covers saidjoint when said ramp is in said extended position, said free enddefining a handle which projects outwardly when said ramp is in saidfolded position; a flap pivotally connected to one end of said rampintended to lie on a higher height level, said flap tilted down when theramp is in the extended position to define a downwardly facing recesswith said ramp for securing the ramp over a raised threshold area atsaid higher height; and a flexible fabric piece fastened to said one endand to said flap on upper surfaces thereof for covering a second jointbetween the flap and the ramp.
 6. The ramp as set forth in claim 5,further comprising an anchoring attachment pivotally connected to saidflap for connecting the ramp to the threshold area.
 7. The ramp as setforth in claim 6, wherein said anchoring attachment includes an L-shapedmember with one arm connected to said flap with a hinge, and the otherarm having a fitting for fixed attachment to a mounting surface in thethreshold area.
 8. The ramp as set forth in claim 5, further comprisingfriction enhancing elements positioned on the walk surface.
 9. The rampas set forth in claim 5, wherein the covering tongue is made of anelastic material.
 10. The ramp as set forth in claim 5, wherein saidhandle defined by said free end includes an opening which, when the rampis in said extended position, is spaced from the walk surface joint. 11.The ramp as set forth in claim 5, wherein the flap is connected to theramp by a hinge mounted to lower surfaces thereof.